Just a few years ago, fear and depression nearly took him from me. Threatened to steal the world of his mischievous smile, the one that tilts the right corner of his mouth like the crescent moon on its axis. But, as I rejoice over his presence and delight in the strides he’s made toward healing, I’m reminded of the loss and tragedy dear childhood friends have had to brave.
Instead of delighting in healing? They have lived with the aftermath of a momentary decision too permanent to undo the pain of a mother’s heart. They have felt the emptiness of a home once filled with the laughter of a young one on the edge of adulthood.
People toss out platitudes and church-appropriate responses. This is all part of God’s plan. God never gives us more than we can handle. But, the words are misleading. Perhaps untruthful.
God is never the author of evil and while His will ultimately triumphs, man’s enemy is at work. Wreaking havoc. Whispering lies. Sowing destruction.
And boys on the cusp of manhood lose hope.
[bbctt tweet="Brokenness is not God's plan. Depression. Chronic illness. Abuse. Suicide. We weren't meant to know of or experience any of these.#courage#hope#more of Jesus."]
Brokenness is not God’s plan. Depression. Chronic illness. Abuse. Suicide. Cancer. Stillborn death. We weren’t meant to know of or experience any of these. The Father who ushered breath into lungs of clay and called his creation good designed us for more.
He knows our condition, dear friend. Scripture refers to courage over one hundred times because in this world we will bear more than we can handle.
We need fortitude. Courage. Above all, we need to rely on Christ.
Why does God stay his hand in some situations and intervene in others? When two mothers kneels with all humility and beg the Father to spare their children the pain of abuse, why does he answer yes to one and no the other?
When cancer is the diagnosis and prayer warriors converge on a friend’s behalf they cannot know whether the Father will heal on this side of heaven or the next. But, the Healer is at work regardless and we are called to love and pray faithfully.
Life can feel unfair. As though we’ve been treated less than someone else. That because God won’t bend to our will He isn’t good. But, our relationship with God isn’t about what we squeeze out of him. We cannot manipulate Him through pray, or fasting, or looking good as we show up faithfully at church.
[bbctt tweet="One glorious, beautiful day all things will be restored and set right. Instead of death? Delight. In place of mourning? Celebration. Rather than injustice? More of Jesus.#praise#thankful#hope."]
We trust Him knowing that one glorious, beautiful day all things will be restored and set right. Instead of death? Delight. In place of mourning? Celebration. Rather than injustice? More of Jesus.
Hang on, friend. The waiting won’t be long.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
I often link up with the following wonderful bloggers:
Mondays InstaEncouragements/ Anita Ojeda ,Mandy and Michele, Kingdom Bloggers,
Tuesdays RaRa Linkup /GraceFull Tuesday / Tell His Story/Anchored Abode, InstaEncouragments
Wednesdays Recharge Wednesday / Welcome Wednesday /LetsHave Coffee/Porch Stories
Thursdays Heart Encouragement / Tune In Thursday /Salt and Light / Five Minute Friday
Friday Counting My Blessings, Faith on Fire , Blogger Voices Network , Grace and Truth Linkup, Fresh Market Fridays
Thanks for bringing this truth to light, Tammy. A friend who has lost much once reminded me that we were created for perfect union with God, and our brains were not created to have to deal with the kinds of trauma this life brings. May we fight for wholeness and healing and not throw ourselves down in the face of destruction!
Hi Stacey,
Giving up in the midst of it all can be tempting, can’t it? I suppose God knew our feeble hearts would need all of the verses that remind us to “be strong and courageous”. Peace and grace, Tammy
An appropriate post in light of two mass shootings in our nation.
Oh, may we cling to the hope of Christ! Peace and grace, Tammy
Loved this Ms. Tammy. Your “hook” left me breathless young lady. I HAD to read more. You are correct, we were not made for this world, but we must find a way to survive in it; until the day my friend. Without God, no one will survive this world. Fact! When I think of brokenness, I have come to recognize times in my life when God has had to break will will so I could accept His. I pray this happens less and less as I strive to be more and more like His Son. God’s blessings ma’am; and enjoy that beautiful, wonderful smile.
Hi, J.D.
I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner, but your response had drifted into the spam folder. (Yikes!) Oh, won’t it be a glorious day when we step into His glorious presence? I agree–so often our own will must be broken in order to bend to His. I, too, pray I’m conforming more to His likeness every day. Peace and grace, Tammy
So grateful for the beauty that shines through cracks in our lives–He wastes nothing, and makes all things beautiful in his time.
Hi Michele,
Thank you, Lord, for the rainbow after the storm! His promises are always true.
Blessings,
Tammy
Tammy, I rejoice with you for the healing work God is doing in his life. I agree with you that brokenness was never God’s plan and it makes me so grateful to be reminded that His master plan is perfect and beautiful and we can trust and rely on Him to carry it out. Let’s stay in prayer for those who are losing hope as we continually encourage and shine God’s light.
Blessings to you!
Marva | SunSparkleShine
Hi Marva,
I pray fervently that others will see the hope of Christ through us. May He send the Comforter and give each of us a willing heart to minister to those in our circle of influence.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Oh, how hard it is to walk through any of these things! I fight it deep in my soul (and often become weary doing so.) My relief comes in knowing the economy of God. He won’t waste my pain. He uses it. I may not see or understand, but I can trust Him.
Hi Rebecca. I’m grateful God never fails to use even the worst of our circumstances and that He redeems the hard parts of our stories. Peace and grace, Tammy
We need more people in the church who understand that depression is not a spiritual issue (it may have spiritual consequences, but it’s an illness, just like cancer).
It is such a need, Anita! Perhaps as more of us speak out and advocate for others, we’ll begin to notice change. Blessings, Tammy